London: Girondins Bordeaux are on course to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after Michael Ciani's first-half header earned Laurent Blanc's side a 1-0 victory at Olympiakos Piraeus.
Bordeaux, who amassed more points than any other team in the group stage, soaked up late pressure and were good value for a last 16 first-leg win that makes them favourites to progress ahead of the return at the Stade Chaban-Delmas on March 17.
"We played very well. We came to show we are serious competitors in this competition and we displayed this during the course of the match," Blanc told reporters after Ciani's winner in added time at the end of the first period.
"We scored a goal at an important point in the first half. In the second half we left too much space for Olympiakos and there were spells when I felt we could have been more aggressive but in general I am satisfied," added Blanc.
"I believe my players and the team knew what they were doing out there and they showed me what I was expecting to see.”
"I believe that generally we played a good game. We showed organisation and stability. We came here in order to see what our chances were of progressing and with this result we have increased our chances of reaching the quarter-finals."
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 09:34